Anxiety and worry can cause great suffering and significantly impact one’s quality of life, especially for pre-adolescent children. Therefore, adequate treatment is necessary to minimize suffering...Show moreAnxiety and worry can cause great suffering and significantly impact one’s quality of life, especially for pre-adolescent children. Therefore, adequate treatment is necessary to minimize suffering and adverse outcomes. However, in order to adequately treat anxiety, the cultural background needs to be taken into consideration. Many differences concerning anxiety have been found among Western and non-Western cultures. However, previous research has primarily focused on children and/or adolescents in general, causing research about pre- adolescent children to be sparse. Since this particular period is signified by significant social and emotional growth, it has a great impact on the rest of the children’s lives. Therefore, receiving adequate treatment during this time can be incredibly beneficial. The present study explored the differences among Dutch and Indian children concerning the prevalence, manifestation and perceived causes of anxiety. In total, 140 pre-adolescent children between the ages of 10 to 12 years old were recruited by our researchers. Consequently, the participants were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the RCADS and the CFI. Contrary to our hypothesis, no significant differences were found regarding the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder among Dutch and Indian children. We did find that Dutch children were more likely than Indian children to mention psychological and somatic symptoms as a result of anxiety. Additionally, the perceived causes of anxiety were found to be different between Dutch and Indian children. Dutch children were more likely to attribute their anxiety to high personal achievement independent from interpersonal situations and moral values in line with individualism such as desiring uniqueness and sticking up for themselves. Whereas Indian children were more likely to attribute social factors such as disappointing others or bringing shame to their family, which are in line with collectivism, as causes of their anxiety. In conclusion, culture can significantly impact anxiety, particularly its perceived causes.Show less
The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between intelligence (IQ) and externalizing behavior problems with cognitive empathy as a possible mediator. The sample consisted of 95 eight-...Show moreThe goal of this study was to examine the relationship between intelligence (IQ) and externalizing behavior problems with cognitive empathy as a possible mediator. The sample consisted of 95 eight- to twelve-year-old primary school students who are vulnerable to engage in criminal activities later in life. This vulnerability was indicated by a score of ≥ 65 on the Teacher Report Form. The results of this study contribute to research regarding preventive interventions to reduce the occurrence of criminal activities among youth in larger cities in the Netherlands, like Amsterdam. The IQ was measured with the Dutch version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale III. Externalizing behavior problems were measured through the Teacher Report Form. Cognitive empathy was measured by a questionnaire regarding the four elements of empathy in four different stimulus clips that were shown. In the current study no significant relationship was found between IQ and externalizing behavior problems or between cognitive empathy and externalizing behavior problems. Only a positive relationship between IQ and cognitive empathy was found, indicating that children with a higher IQ experienced more cognitive empathy. The results off this study cannot confirm the role of cognitive empathy as a possible mediator in the relationship between IQ and externalizing behavior problems. Because of the significant relationship found between IQ and cognitive empathy, it’s important that these variables are examined together and not individually in future research. The results of this study contribute to the development of new interventions regarding the risk factors of externalizing behavior problems in children who have a high risk of criminal behavior later in life. The development of evidence-based interventions contributes to an optimal preventive treatment of the high-risk children.Show less
The Preventive Intervention Trajectory (Preventief Interventie Team; PIT) is a project which intervenes preventively in children who have a risk of future criminal behavior. Interventions focus on...Show moreThe Preventive Intervention Trajectory (Preventief Interventie Team; PIT) is a project which intervenes preventively in children who have a risk of future criminal behavior. Interventions focus on reducing externalizing problem behavior in these children. It is important to know which factors have an influence on the effectivity of the PIT. Current research focused on the association between self-worth and externalizing problems. Previous research is inconsistent, which suggests there is a possibility that the association between self-worth and externalizing problems is a quadratic association. Current research examined the possibility that children with average self-worth would have less externalizing problems at timepoint one than children with high and low self-worth. Children with low, average and high self-worth were compared on (reduction of) externalizing problems before treatment, on the short term (six months), and on the long term (twelve months). Results showed that there is was no significant linear association between self-worth and externalizing problems before treatment, which supports the suggestion that there might be a quadratic association. However, ANOVA-analysis revealed that there was also no significant quadratic or linear relation. Externalizing problems in children reduced significantly on the short and long term. However, no significant linear or quadratic relation between self-worth and the reduction in externalizing problems on the short and long term was found, indicating that there is no association between self-worth and (the reduction of) externalizing problems. Future research should include a larger sample to verify the current findings.Show less
